Dry sauna therapy is beneficial for patients with low back pain

Abstract

Background

Dry sauna has been very popular as an alternative therapy for promoting health among people who want to improve their health condition without relying on pharmaceuticals. The aim of this study was to investigate whether dry sauna therapy improved quality of life and reduced pain in participants with low back pain.

Methods

Study participants comprised a total of 37 consecutive patients who were over 20 years of age with low back pain. Dry sauna therapy was performed twice per day for 5 consecutive days over the course of 1 week, thus comprising a total of 10 sessions each of 15 min of exposure to a 90°C dry sauna.

Results

The verbal numerical rating scale (VNRS) and Oswestry disability index (ODI) scores were significantly reduced after dry sauna therapy (P < 0.001 for both). VNRS pain scores had a median (range) of 5 (2–8) before dry sauna therapy and 3 (0–8) after dry sauna therapy. ODI scores had a median (range) of 12 (2–24) before dry sauna therapy and 8 (1–17) after dry sauna therapy. The proportion of participants who reported successful treatment (excellent + good) was 70%. No adverse effects were observed related to dry sauna therapy.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that dry sauna therapy may be useful to improve quality of life and reduce pain in patients with low back pain. Therefore, pain physicians can recommend dry sauna therapy as an alternative and complimentary therapy for patients with low back pain.

INTRODUCTION

Low back pain is one of the most common symptoms reported in patients that visit the hospital [1]. A diverse array of therapeutic approaches are available for the treatment of lower back pain, including bed rest, medication, epidural steroid injection, exercises, physical therapy, psychotherapy, and surgery [2–4]. In many countries, dry sauna has been very popular as an alternative therapy among people who want to improve their health without relying on pharmaceuticals. Some patients with low back pain inquire with their physicians regarding the effectiveness of alternative medicine, including thermal therapy. Pain physicians are obliged to respond to the diverse needs of their patients.

Thermal therapy methods, such as dry sauna therapy and Waon therapy, have been used to improve symptoms, promote the metabolism of the body, relieve joint stiffness, and reduce pain in patients with musculoskeletal disorders. Furthermore, these thermal therapy methods increase blood flow and decrease muscle spasms [5,6]. Importantly, thermal therapy has no significant adverse effects and does not require any physical or mental effort [7]. Therefore, patient compliance with this type of therapy is very high.

Previous studies on the effects of thermal therapy were performed primarily with Waon therapy [7–11]. Waon therapy uses a far infrared-ray day sauna, which is evenly maintained at 60°C and thus differs from a traditional sauna; it has been used mainly in Japan [8–11]. Conversely, dry sauna therapy employs a far-infrared dry sauna at 90°C with a wood stove; this method is performed without hydration [5], and has been commonly used as a folk remedy in Korean patients experiencing chronic fatigue and pain. However, the effects of dry sauna on low back pain have not been thoroughly investigated.

In the present study, we aimed to investigate whether dry sauna therapy improved quality of life and reduced pain in participants with low back pain.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The present study prospectively analyzed the data of patients receiving dry sauna therapy for low back pain in Jincheon (Chungbuk, Korea) between May 7, 2018 and May 11, 2018.

This study was approved by the local Institutional Review Board of National University Hospital (no. 2016-11-009) and was conducted in accordance with the tenets of the Declaration of Helsinki. Written informed consent was obtained from each participant.

Forty participants were recruited; after dropout of 3 participants, 37 were included in this study. Inclusion criteria for the study were patients who were over 20 years of age, had a confirmed diagnosis of chronic low back pain (> 3 months) by a physician, and had American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I or II. For diagnosis of chronic low back pain, we used history taking, physical examination, neurologic testing, and radiologic routine imaging. All participants had non-specific low back pain [12]. Exclusion criteria included a history of physical therapy or injection therapy within the previous month; low back pain due to recent compression fracture, herniated disc with radiculopathy, and spinal stenosis with claudication; women who were pregnant or lactating; the presence of major co-morbidities, such as severe liver disease, congestive heart failure, chronic renal disease, or cancer; and previous myocardial infarction or stroke.

Data, including previous medical histories, were collected from a self-administered questionnaire, interviews, and anthropometric parameters. The data from questionnaires, interviews, blood samples, and anthropometric measurement were obtained on the day of the first dry sauna therapy (prior to therapy) and within one day after the last dry sauna therapy (after the fifth day).

Measurement

Blood pressure, body mass index, body weight, height, and waist circumference were measured before and after therapy. The modified Korean version of the Oswestry disability index (ODI), which was standardized to 9 items, was used to measure the severity of physical disability [13]. The ODI consists of pain intensity, personal care, lifting, walking, sitting, standing, sleeping, social life, and traveling. Each item has a 6-point scale, ranging from 0 to 5 points. The total score is calculated by adding the scores of the 9 items.

The pain and degree of satisfaction of participants were respectively evaluated by using the verbal numerical rating scale (VNRS) and the Modified Macnab’s outcome, before and after the therapy [13,14]. The VNRS measured the pain experienced, with 0 representing no pain and 10 representing the worst pain imaginable.

Participants also provided their degree of satisfaction. They were asked to choose from 1 of 4 possible responses, based on their satisfaction with treatment. Patient satisfaction levels after therapy were assessed on the basis of the rate of improvement and were classified as excellent, good, fair, or poor. Excellent was defined as almost 100% improvement and an expected level of satisfaction with the therapy results; good, above 50% improvement and a partial level of satisfaction, willing to try this therapy next time; fair, below 50% improvement and had some level of therapeutic effect, but insufficient to choose this therapy next time; and poor, no improvement or worsened symptoms. Participants who rated the improvement as “excellent” or “good” were considered to have experienced successful treatment. Those rating the improvement as “fair” or “poor” were considered to have experienced failed treatment. All participants were screened thereafter for any major or minor complications.

Dry sauna therapy

Dry sauna therapy employs a far-infrared dry sauna, which is evenly maintained at 90°C by using an oak tree charcoal stove in a cabin. The participants entered the 90°C dry sauna (Backgok, Jincheon, Chungbuk, Korea) for 15 min, and rested at room temperature for 30 min (session 1); they re-entered the 90°C dry sauna for an additional 15 min, and then rested for 30 min at room temperature (session 2), all in a single day. All participants’ body weights and blood pressures were checked before and after each session; oral hydration with water was encouraged during dry sauna sessions. The dry sauna therapy was performed twice per day for 5 consecutive days within 1 week, for a total of 10 sessions, each comprising 15 min of exposure to a 90°C dry sauna. The entire process of dry sauna therapy was performed with careful supervision by the researcher.

Outcomes

Patient outcomes were measured before and after the therapy. The outcomes were pain, measured by using the VNRS pain score (0–10), and functional assessment, measured by using the ODI.

Sample size

The sample size was calculated based on a previous study and assessment [8]. The primary outcome for power analysis was the VNRS pain score; a priori power assessment was performed to detect a difference of ≥ 30% in VNRS pain score. The secondary outcome was functional status (ODI). Considering a two-sided significance level of 0.05, 80% power, and an effect size of 0.5, we estimated that 34 patients should be enrolled in this study. Further, we assumed a dropout rate of 15%; thus, we aimed to enroll 40 patients.

Statistical analysis

The data are presented as the means ± standard deviations. Parametric comparisons between demographic and clinical data before and after dry sauna therapy were made by using paired Student’s t-tests. Non-parametric comparisons were made by using chi-squared tests or Wilcoxon rank-sum tests.

In all comparisons, P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Statistical analyses were performed by using SPSS 23.0 (IBM, USA).

RESULTS

The characteristics of 37 participants with low back pain are presented in Table 1. There were 34 (92%) female participants; the average age of study participants was 60.3 ± 8.9 years. Of the 37 participants, 15 (41%) had hypertension, 4 (11%) had type 2 diabetes, 2 (5%) had dyslipidemia, 3 (8%) were current smokers, and 29 (78%) were non-alcohol drinkers. The causes of low back pain in participants were lumbago (30%), intervertebral disc disorder (16%), and spondylosis (54%).

Table 1.

Baseline Demographic and Clinical Characteristics

Characteristic	Value (n = 37)
Age (yr)	60.3 ± 8.9
Sex (M/F)	3/34
Hypertension	15 (41)
Diabetes	4 (11)
Dyslipidemia	2 (5)
Current smoker	3 (8)
Frequent alcohol consumption	8 (22)
Daily or almost daily	1
Once or twice a week	1
Once or twice a month	6
Never or almost	29 (78)
Diagnosis
Lumbago	11 (30)
Intervertebral disc disorder, lumbar	6 (16)
Spondylosis, lumbar	20 (54)

Values are presented as means ± SD or number (%).

Table 2 lists the clinical parameters and body composition data for participants with low back pain, before and after dry sauna therapy. Before and after dry sauna therapy, there were no statistically significant differences with respect to height, weight, waist circumference, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, or diastolic blood pressure.

Table 2.

Comparison of Clinical Parameters and Body Composition Data among Participants with Low Back Pain Before and After Dry Sauna Therapy

Characteristic	Before (n = 37)	After (n = 37)	P value
Height (cm)	156.5 ± 6.2	156.2 ± 6.4	0.355
Weight (kg)	64.1 ± 11.4	62.5 ± 10.6	0.763
Waist circumference (cm)	88.0 ± 7.3	86.8 ± 10.2	0.261
Body mass index (kg/m2)	26.1 ± 2.3	25.6 ± 2.5	0.243
Systolic BP (mmHg)	135.8 ± 19.1	129.2 ± 18.2	0.082
Diastolic BP (mmHg)	80.6 ± 12.5	77.5 ± 12.6	0.510
Heart rate (beats/min)	75.4 ± 10.4	71.1 ± 10.3	0.003*

Values are presented as mean ± SD. BP: blood pressure.

^*P < 0.05 compared with before dry sauna therapy.

The VNRS and ODI scores were significantly reduced after dry sauna therapy (P < 0.001 for both). VNRS pain scores had a median (range) of 5 (2–8) before dry sauna therapy and 3 (0–8) after dry sauna therapy (P < 0.001, Fig. 1). ODI scores had a median (range) of 12 (2–24) before dry sauna therapy and 8 (1–17) after dry sauna therapy (P < 0.001, Fig. 2). Before dry sauna therapy, VNRS and ODI scores were 5.0 ± 1.2 and 12.2 ± 4.6, respectively; after therapy, they were 3.1 ± 1.1 and ± 4.0, respectively. Twenty-four patients (65%) showed a difference of ≥ 30% in VNRS pain score after dry sauna therapy.

Fig. 1.

Effect on verbal numerical rating scale (VNRS) after dry sauna therapy in participants with low back pain (n = 37). Data are presented as median, interquartile range (box), and range (whiskers), °P < 0.001.

Fig. 2.

Effect on Oswestry disability index (ODI) after dry sauna therapy in participants with low back pain (n = 37). Data are presented as median, interquartile range (box), and range (whiskers), °P < 0.001.

Patient satisfaction levels after dry sauna therapy are presented in Table 3: 3 (8%), 23 (62%), and 11 (30%) of participants in this study reported excellent, good, and fair satisfaction levels, respectively. No participant reported a poor satisfaction level. The proportion of participants who exhibited successful treatment (excellent + good) was 70%.

Table 3.

Patient Satisfaction Levels after Dry Sauna Therapy

Satisfaction level	Patients (n = 37)
Excellent	3 (8)
Good	23 (62)
Fair	11 (30)
Poor	0 (0)
Successful treatment	26 (70)

Values are presented as number (%). Successful treatment = Excellent + Good.

No complications, including syncope, heat exhaustion, or heat stroke, were reported in this study.

DISCUSSION

The present study revealed that VNRS and ODI scores were improved after dry sauna therapy in participants with low back pain. Notably, satisfaction level was high among the participants. There were no adverse events. These results indicate that dry sauna therapy has beneficial effects (safety and improvement of symptoms) for patients with low back pain.

Thermal therapy, including dry sauna therapy has long been utilized traditionally in many countries. Sauna therapy consists of systemic soothing warmth that comfortably refreshes the mind and body. Although the biological effects of dry sauna therapy have not yet been fully elucidated, previous studies have shown that sauna therapy is useful and safe treatment for chronic fatigue syndrome, chronic heart failure, pulmonary disease, and chronic pain [3,9–11]. Typically, in Japanese studies, a 60°C dry sauna is applied for 15 minutes once per day [9–11], whereas Koreans traditionally prefer a dry sauna at a higher temperature for prolonged periods. Therefore, we applied a 90°C dry sauna therapy for 15 min twice per day.

The present study showed that VNRS decreased after the dry sauna therapy, which may have been related to pain reduction from the thermal therapy. The detailed mechanisms by which thermal therapy achieves reductions in pain are unclear. However, the mechanism of pain reduction in thermal therapy may be explained by the following four mechanisms. First, heat stimulates heat-sensitive receptors in the skin and deep tissues; pain is then reduced by closing pain-regulating gates, according to the gate control theory [6]. Second, heat reduces oxidative stress, which may be related to pain [10,15,16]. Third, heat reduces the excitability of the muscle spindle, thereby reducing muscle spasms and reducing muscle tenderness; heat also warms the patient’s body comfortably, thus allowing relaxation [9,17]. Fourth, when heat is applied to the joints, the viscosity of the synovial fluid is reduced, thereby removing painful stiffness and improving joint motion [6,18].

Previous studies have shown that the visual analog pain score and number of pain behaviors significantly decreased after thermal treatment in patients with chronic pain, and that thermal treatment reduced pain and stiffness in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis [3,19]. Additionally, regular sauna therapy reduced pain scores and improved quality of life in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia [9,20]. The present study showed that VNRS and ODI scores decreased after dry sauna therapy. Our results support previous studies that showed dry sauna therapy has potential health benefits for improvement of physical and social activities, as well as pain reduction. Dry sauna therapy is an inexpensive and widely accessible lifestyle intervention that can enhance health and wellness, particularly among populations that have difficulty with exercise.

The present study showed that heart rate decreased after dry sauna therapy. Sauna therapy is very beneficial for patients with cardiovascular disease, including chronic heart failure [8,21,22]. In this study, the lower heart rate after dry sauna therapy may be due to heat-induced physiologic relaxation and psychological satisfaction with pain reduction.

In this study, the participants reported high satisfaction levels; we observed successful treatment (excellent or good satisfaction) among 70% of the participants. Importantly, no participants reported poor satisfaction. Dry sauna therapy appears to be well-tolerated in the clinical setting with only minor and infrequent adverse effects, such as decreased blood pressure, hypovolemia, and decreased body weight [9,11,23]. Despite the high temperature of 90°C in dry sauna therapy, in this study, no participants experienced adverse events. This high safety may be due to the limited sauna time of 15 min, as well as break time of 30 min for rest and oral hydration at room temperature, between dry saunas.

Our present study had some limitations. First, our study had no control group. We did not assess participants who did not receive dry sauna therapy because we focused on the degree of satisfaction, changes in physical disabilities, and pain scores after dry sauna therapy. In the future, trials will be needed to determine the efficacy of dry sauna therapy for low back pain. Second, our study solely assessed short-term results. It is uncertain whether effects of dry sauna therapy are stable over an extended period, and it would be useful to analyze long-term follow-up data. Notwithstanding the aforementioned limitations, this study is valuable in that it shows that dry sauna therapy is safe and effective for patients with low back pain.

In conclusion, our results suggest that dry sauna therapy may be useful to improve quality of life and reduce pain in patients with low back pain. Therefore, pain physicians are likely to recommend dry sauna therapy as an alternative and complimentary therapy for patients with low back pain.